SuzukiSavage.com - Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield

ihasabike Full Member Offline ^^ihasapicofit! Posts: 121	Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield 07/15/14 at 17:03:44 I know I'm not supposed to get alcohol on it. What kind of chemical can I use to clean it that won't damage it and works really well to clean it? Is there any kind of cloth I can use that won't damage it?
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Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield
Reply #1 - 07/15/14 at 17:17:59

I bought a new windshield last winter and it had definite instructions about cleaning. It said to use only mild soap. No window cleaner, no solvents, no abrasives etc. Mild soap only and it doesn't work very good to get the bugs off.

I've been told that draping a hot wet towel over the windshield for a few minutes prior to cleaning helps to soften the bugs.

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BalingWire Full Member Offline "The savage in man is never quite eradicated." HDT Posts: 238 Wauseon, Ohio Gender:	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #2 - 07/15/14 at 17:19:31 Plexus plastic cleaner is the best.
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arteacher Serious Thumper Offline Ride as if your naked and invisable! Posts: 2581 London ontario Gender:	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #3 - 07/15/14 at 17:20:38 When in doubt about cleaning stuff I use eyeglasses cleaner. If it will leave all the coatings on my glasses alone it cant hurt anything. The best thing for drying it is a clean chammios.
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Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield
Reply #4 - 07/16/14 at 04:14:24

I like Honda's Spay Cleaner Polish. Use it on the whole bike with a worn out t-shirt. I also use it to clean my helmet including the face shield. Gets great reviews and can be picked up at a local dealer.

I usually spray the windshield first, along with any other area with bugs, and let it soak for awhile. I'm sure you already know this but never use paper towels on plastic. The wood fibers can leave scratches.

http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/942/28845/Pro-Honda-Spray-Cleaner-%26-Polish

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #5 - 07/16/14 at 04:16:57 Eyeglass lenses are polycarbonate. You can use the same thing they recommend for them.
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Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield
Reply #6 - 07/16/14 at 05:02:51

Yep....When I am ready to clean my windshield I place wet paper towels or a wet towel on the windshield to do the initial bug guts softening. Then I remove the towels and use the hose to spray water on the windshield to get off the grit.....you don't want to start scrubbing with anything until you have the grit off or you will scratch the windshield. Then I apply soapy water and wash the windshield, and then rinse it again with water, and dry with a microfiber towel. If I want to polish it I use a cleaner made for plastic windshields.

Same thing for my face shield on my helmet. Although sometimes I will remove it and soak it in the utility sink in sudsy water to soften the bugs and get the grit off.

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Beagle Full Member Offline 1998 Suzuki Savage Posts: 217 Ohio Gender:	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #7 - 07/16/14 at 05:52:14 I use eye glass cleaner on my windshield and it works great!
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jman Junior Member Offline Posts: 60 Central Wisconsin Gender:	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #8 - 07/16/14 at 05:58:15 BalingWire wrote on 07/15/14 at 17:19:31: Plexus plastic cleaner is the best. +1 on Plexus. I use it on my Triumph Daytona, and on my helmet, and it works wonders. I bought a large can from the local Harley shop about 2 years ago, and it's still not empty. It's not cheap stuff, though.
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BalingWire

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Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield
Reply #9 - 07/16/14 at 06:07:53

Yes, motorcycles dealerships are carrying Plexus now. You can also pick up a can at the local airport.

A tip from my aircraft daze on cleaning plastic windshields:

Wipe One Way. One Way Only.

"One Ping Only" The Hunt for Red October, Sir Sean Connery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr0JaXfKj68

No circles! No swirls! No cross-hatching! No this-a-way-then-that-a-way! After a few years, you'll have little micro-scratches, and if you've wiped one way only, the sun will sometimes glint off the micro-scratches only at one angle, instead of all the time at many angles.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #10 - 07/16/14 at 06:27:44 Makes sense,, no reason to screw up in every direction. The prep work Dave mentioned sounds really smart.
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Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield
Reply #11 - 07/16/14 at 06:32:21

+1 on the soaking with a warn (or at least wet) towel or cloth to loosen all of the gunk. This is key.

I recently tested the 'pledge' cleaning method and I was quite impressed at how well it works. If you are not familiar with using pledge (yes, the wood polish/cleaner) search the web and you'll find a lot of people using it. You can use the old lemony scent or the multi-surface (what I used) and as long as you apply it on the bike and the windshield that DO NOT have dirt and grime on them it acts as a great polish and leaves a shiny, slippery surface that helps keep the bugs and dirt from sticking back to the bike. Works on the metal and plastic surfaces equally as well.

Sure, you can buy the professional products as several have noted and it's a safe bet if you are concerned about damaging your windshield...I'm just a cheapo and willing to take the gamble on pledge and it worked (this time) Shocked

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Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 18098 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #12 - 07/16/14 at 07:01:08 Back in the 70's I was taking flying lessons in small planes. The airport always used Pledge on the plastic windshields. Got the bugs off and made the rain slide off really well.
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield
Reply #13 - 07/16/14 at 14:07:07

Dave wrote on 07/16/14 at 07:01:08:

Back in the 70's I was taking flying lessons in small planes. The airport always used Pledge on the plastic windshields. Got the bugs off and made the rain slide off really well.

I gave myself Flying Lessons off of Grandpa's barn. I Soloed the first day and hung up my wings at the same time.

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PuffsPlus Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 64	Re: Washing a Polycarbonate Windshield Reply #14 - 07/16/14 at 18:50:31 Good thread. Very informative!!
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